"Focus on the journey, not the destination. Joy is found not in finishing an activity but in doing it. " -Greg Anderson American Athlete
Glenn in the Amphitheater
This past weekend my husband was invited to perform at a French Chateau in Pennsylvania as a featured artist. So, we dropped the kids off with my parents and went on a little adventure. Now I know I'm his wife so I'm a little biased, but my husband Glenn is one of the best musicians I have ever seen. He is a skilled drummer, piano player, performer, and most importantly, Glenn plays with his heart and soul. It is beautiful to watch, so of course, I went along for the ride..
Glenn began his performance in a huge amphitheater with blazing bon fires outlining the outskirts of the stage. Ridiculously amazing! Sound check had been checked, his musical gadgets were all working and he was ready to make some beautiful music at this grand chateau. Within the first five minutes though, Glenn's microphone had a glitch, then his hand sonic drums hiccuped, his amp started to crackle and the sound started to waver. I sat in the front row holding my breath and wanting desperately to save him. I wanted to pull the curtains closed and send everyone home with a "sorry, but we're having technical difficulties." We were in an open amphitheater though.........no curtains to pull and nowhere to hide. In a sense, Glenn was naked out there.
I had already deemed the whole thing a wash and a failed performance in my head. But as the glitches kept happening, I saw my husband release them with a breath. I witnessed him calmly take a left instead of a right without a moments hesitation. And as he took a sharp turn and strayed from his own road map, he still continued to play with his heart and his soul. I know every single person in that audience felt the strength of Glenn's ability to detach and move on. He didn't wither away, he didn't falter.......he moved forward.
Glenn began his performance in a huge amphitheater with blazing bon fires outlining the outskirts of the stage. Ridiculously amazing! Sound check had been checked, his musical gadgets were all working and he was ready to make some beautiful music at this grand chateau. Within the first five minutes though, Glenn's microphone had a glitch, then his hand sonic drums hiccuped, his amp started to crackle and the sound started to waver. I sat in the front row holding my breath and wanting desperately to save him. I wanted to pull the curtains closed and send everyone home with a "sorry, but we're having technical difficulties." We were in an open amphitheater though.........no curtains to pull and nowhere to hide. In a sense, Glenn was naked out there.
I had already deemed the whole thing a wash and a failed performance in my head. But as the glitches kept happening, I saw my husband release them with a breath. I witnessed him calmly take a left instead of a right without a moments hesitation. And as he took a sharp turn and strayed from his own road map, he still continued to play with his heart and his soul. I know every single person in that audience felt the strength of Glenn's ability to detach and move on. He didn't wither away, he didn't falter.......he moved forward.
Glenn rockin' out!
As I witnessed my incredible husband's ability to control the uncontrollable, I realized that most of us live our lives strategically planning our own outcomes. We attach ourselves to the guided road map so much so, that when the 'plan' doesn't pan out, failure is the automatic outcome. That's where I had gone in those first five minutes of my husband's performance, and unfortunately, that's usually how it all boils down for me. I don't stray......I tread water until I drown.
And Glenn certainly did not drown. What came out of Glenn's performance was magical. Really. As the bon fire smoke gently caressed his face in the moonlight, the sound of his djembe drums softly enveloped the night. There was a stillness as the audience waited eagerly for his next move. Listening intently, then clapping their hands, tapping their toes until everyone had a tamborine, a shaker and a drum stick in their hands.
Those glitches and hiccups created a different journey for Glenn. He couldn't rely on his usual routine and so his organic and stripped down performance reached the audience on a different level. They listened harder, felt more and allowed themselves to stray from the road map. Ultimately, Glenn's performance took the audience on a journey that gave them a chance to find their own heart and soul.
As one audience member later said, "you were a kernel of popcorn when you performed. It was exciting to see you pop." Yes, there is truth to that statement because watching Glenn was unpredictable, exciting, inspiring and also very motivating. He started to play with a simmer, dialed up the heat until inevitably, the kernel popped for all of us.
So when you throw your noodles on the wall, be flexible with the outcome. Enjoy the journey, take a left if need be and release the glitches. Because you never know what can come out of a glitch........maybe a popped kernel:)
comment or email me at elena@noodlesonthewall.com
And Glenn certainly did not drown. What came out of Glenn's performance was magical. Really. As the bon fire smoke gently caressed his face in the moonlight, the sound of his djembe drums softly enveloped the night. There was a stillness as the audience waited eagerly for his next move. Listening intently, then clapping their hands, tapping their toes until everyone had a tamborine, a shaker and a drum stick in their hands.
Those glitches and hiccups created a different journey for Glenn. He couldn't rely on his usual routine and so his organic and stripped down performance reached the audience on a different level. They listened harder, felt more and allowed themselves to stray from the road map. Ultimately, Glenn's performance took the audience on a journey that gave them a chance to find their own heart and soul.
As one audience member later said, "you were a kernel of popcorn when you performed. It was exciting to see you pop." Yes, there is truth to that statement because watching Glenn was unpredictable, exciting, inspiring and also very motivating. He started to play with a simmer, dialed up the heat until inevitably, the kernel popped for all of us.
So when you throw your noodles on the wall, be flexible with the outcome. Enjoy the journey, take a left if need be and release the glitches. Because you never know what can come out of a glitch........maybe a popped kernel:)
comment or email me at elena@noodlesonthewall.com
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